LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT: The US Ski Team Approach

LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT:
The U.S. Ski Team Approach
Ron Kipp
Alpine Sport Education Manager,
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT:
The U.S. Ski Team Approach
Ron Kipp
Alpine Sport Education Manager,
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
Park City, Utah
U.S. Ski Team Training Facility
Long Term Athlete Development
Ron Kipp
Alpine Sport Education Manager
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
Stakeholders
see this…
…and imagine
this!
If they look like Ted, why can’t they train like Ted?
Is early specialization
a prerequisite for adult
expertise?
Early specialization…
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10 year rule
10,000 hours
Power law of practice
Deliberate practice
Simon & Chase, (1973), “Skill in
Chess”.
Newell & Rosenbloom, (1981),
“Mechanismis of skill acquisition
and the law of practice”.
Ericsson, et al., (1993), “The role
of deliberate practice in the
acquisition of expert performance”.
1
Athlete AGE???
• Chronological age
• Biological age
• Training age
“Training AGE” is dependent on…
• Volume
• Intensity
• Density
WYSIWYG
object control skills
locomotor skills
body management skills
Pyramid can/should be based on…
• motor control
• aerobic
• anaerobic
–strength
–power
–speed
blood volume
stroke volume
cardiac output
capillary volume
capillary density
mitochondral volume
mitochondral density
oxidative enzyme
Edge
Roll
Mental
Rotary
Jump
Pressure
Throw
PIPELINE
Life of the athlete
Aero
Tactics
What Should We Help Them Focus On?
Fundamental Skills/Technique
Transition to
competition
Competition
skills
Passion, effort, fun
Attitude,
effort, fun
Dedication,
effort, fun
Sensitivity Windows
RATE OF GROWTH
Figure 3: Sensitivity windows for girls relating to rate of growth, developmental phase, and chronological age (adapted from Balyi & Way, 2005)
RATE OF GROWTH
Figure 4: Sensitivity windows for boys relating to rate of growth, developmental phase, and chronological age (adapted from Balyi & Way, 2005)
FUNdamentals
Learn to Train
Sampling
Train to Train
Specializing
Train to Compete
Investment
Negative consequences of
early specialization:
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lack of sport choices
depression
eating disorders
chronic fatigue
one-dimensional self concept
overuse injuries
chronic injuries
obsession with winning
imbalanced lifestyle
increased pressure from parents
burnout
underperform later in life
loss of control over their life
dropout from sport
The “doing well early” paradox
Early Maturers
• Are usually larger
than their peers.
• As a result of being
“bigger” they perform
better at many sports.
• They end up not
training as hard and
eventually fall back.
Late Maturers
• Are usually smaller.
• Do not have “amazing”
performances.
• Since they are late
maturers they will end
up with longer
“sensitivity windows”,
where learning is
maximized.
How can we keep
“late maturers in the sport?
Designed to:
 Promote skills
 Teach skills
 Measure skills
 Track skills
 Reward for skills
attained.
SkillsQuest is broken down into “Phases”
Each Phase has four tests
Relative Age Effect
Analysis of Birth Month Relationship to
Results At Different Levels in Alpine Skiing
J4 JO medalists
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
BORN 1ST HALF OF YEAR: 73%
J3 JO medalists
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
World Cup Top 30
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
BORN 1ST HALF OF YEAR: 68% BORN 1ST HALF OF YEAR: 48%
2010 ALPINE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS BORN 1ST HALF OF YEAR: 0%
Ages For Elite Performance In Alpine Ski
Racing
Average Age of Olympic
Gold Medalists
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
Both
Men
Women
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
Average Age of World Cup Race
Winners
U.S. Ski Team Tenents of LTAD
Children are not
simply miniature
adults. They need a
program that is
geared to their
developmental
needs that will
prepare them for the
demands of their
sport when they are
an adult.
Training and
competition
plans should
be designed
based on
individual
needs. Age
alone does
not give the
full picture.
Children
develop and
mature at
different
rates. Age
alone does
not give the
full picture.
We should
consider the
child's
physiological,
cognitive, and
emotional
development
when planning
their training.
There are
certain periods
in a child's
development
where they can
make maximal
gains in certain
areas, so
different
aspects of
training will take
priority during
different
phases.
Competition at
each age level
should reward
their efforts in
training as much
as possible. Since
their training focus
will vary through
the phases, the
competition
format should look
different from that
of a fully mature
athlete.
A long-term
approach to
success may
run counter to
a short-term
approach
focused on
results.
The athletes have to enjoy what
they're doing to commit to it at
higher levels and to pursue it as a
life-long sport.
other versions…
Long Term ________Development
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LTAthleteD
LTCoachD
LTParticipantsD
LTMentorsD
LT ResourcesD
In summary:
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LTAD
Training volume is important
Training density is paramount
“Sensitivity windows” should be
recognized
• Specific training should not be
limited to the “sensitivity
windows”
Photo credits:
Getty Images
Ted Ligety
Bode Miller
Mikaela Shiffrin
Robert Reid
David Green
Nordica
Warner Nickerson
Ann Nash